Marie Antoinette Chair Sells for a Record US$2.8 Million
2 min
A royal chair created for the boudoir of Marie Antoinette achieved €2.6 million (US$2.8 million) Thursday evening at Sotheby’s in Paris, setting a record for a single 18th-century chair.
The sale was the first in a series of four physical and online auctions being held this month featuring the collection of the late Hubert Guerrand-Hermès, a fifth-generation descendant of Thierry Hermès, founder of the French luxury house.
“Tonight’s sale was a celebration of prestigious provenance, as the undeniable response to Hubert Guerrand-Hermès’ eye for collecting showcased the continued demand for the most elevated world of refinement,” Mario Tavella, president of Sotheby’s France and chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said in a news release.
The Louis XVI gilt walnut chair, made circa 1784-85, ignited a “flurry of bidding,” according to Tavella. It was one of 60 pieces sold on Thursday for a total of nearly €23 million, with fees, triple a pre-sale high estimate of nearly €9 million (which did not include fees). More than 80% of lots sold for more than their high estimates.
Guerrand-Hermès was a passionate, wide-ranging collector. The 1,000-plus items being auctioned across the four sales span centuries and include royal furniture and rare books in addition to works by contemporary artists such as Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor.
Collectors appeared drawn to Guerrand-Hermès’ diverse tastes, fiercely bidding as much for the contemporary art as the 18th-century furniture, according to Tavella.
While the record-setting, carved, and regilded Louis XVI chair—which was thought to have been created for Queen Marie-Antoinette’s intimate personal rooms at Versailles—stole the headlines, the top lot of the evening was a monochrome canvas by Pierre Soulages, Painting 130 x 162 cm, February 28, 1970, which sold for €3.1 million —the highest price for a 1970s work by the French artist. Guerrand-Hermès had bought the painting at a Sotheby’s Paris auction nearly 14 years ago for €720,750
Guerrand-Hermès, who died in 2016 at the age of 75, had been vice chairman of Emile Hermès SARL, which represents the family shareholders, and general manager of the group’s real estate companies. He also served as a foreign trade adviser to the French government and was made an officer of France’s Legion of Honor in 1999.
The Guerrand-Hermès auctions will continue this week with a focus on the Duchesse de Berry—described by Sotheby’s as “one of the most famous and fascinating aristocratic figures of the 19th century.”
Copyright 2020, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. LEARN MORE
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
New research suggests spending 40 percent of household income on loan repayments is the new normal
3 min
Requiring more than 30 percent of household income to service a home loan has long been considered the benchmark for ‘housing stress’. Yet research shows it is becoming the new normal. The 2024 ANZ CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report reveals home loans on only 17 percent of homes are ‘serviceable’ if serviceability is limited to 30 percent of the median national household income.
Based on 40 percent of household income, just 37 percent of properties would be serviceable on a mortgage covering 80 percent of the purchase price. ANZ CoreLogic suggest 40 may be the new 30 when it comes to home loan serviceability. “Looking ahead, there is little prospect for the mortgage serviceability indicator to move back into the 30 percent range any time soon,” says the report.
“This is because the cash rate is not expected to be cut until late 2024, and home values have continued to rise, even amid relatively high interest rate settings.” ANZ CoreLogic estimate that home loan rates would have to fall to about 4.7 percent to bring serviceability under 40 percent.
CoreLogic has broken down the actual household income required to service a home loan on a 6.27 percent interest rate for an 80 percent loan based on current median house and unit values in each capital city. As expected, affordability is worst in the most expensive property market, Sydney.
Sydney
Sydney’s median house price is $1,414,229 and the median unit price is $839,344.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $211,456 to afford a home loan for a house and $125,499 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $120,554.
Melbourne
Melbourne’s median house price is $935,049 and the median apartment price is $612,906.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $139,809 to afford a home loan for a house and $91,642 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $110,324.
Brisbane
Brisbane’s median house price is $909,988 and the median unit price is $587,793.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $136,062 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,887 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $107,243.
Adelaide
Adelaide’s median house price is $785,971 and the median apartment price is $504,799.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $117,519 to afford a home loan for a house and $75,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,806.
Perth
Perth’s median house price is $735,276 and the median unit price is $495,360.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $109,939 to afford a home loan for a house and $74,066 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $108,057.
Hobart
Hobart’s median house price is $692,951 and the median apartment price is $522,258.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $103,610 to afford a home loan for a house and $78,088 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $89,515.
Darwin
Darwin’s median house price is $573,498 and the median unit price is $367,716.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $85,750 to afford a home loan for a house and $54,981 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $126,193.
Canberra
Canberra’s median house price is $964,136 and the median apartment price is $585,057.
Based on 40 percent serviceability, households need a total income of $144,158 to afford a home loan for a house and $87,478 for a unit. The city’s actual median household income is $137,760.
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
Consumers are going to gravitate toward applications powered by the buzzy new technology, analyst Michael Wolf predicts
